Results from Popular Conservatism's first opinion panel survey reveal what grassroots members think about the state of the party

In our first survey, we asked a series of questions connected to the Conservative Party leadership election, Conservative policy, the workings of the party and CCHQ, and the approach the new leader of the party should take with Reform UK. 

Key findings: 

Robert Jenrick (24.2%), Kemi Badenoch (23.4%) and Priti Patel (21%) are the clear frontrunners amongst PopCon's opinion panel members. One in five (21%) remain undecided and although for second choice the same three candidates top the poll, almost a third has yet to decide on a preferred second choice of candidate;

An overwhelming majority (94.6%) support the abolition of a swathe of quangos and arms-length bodies which have emerged over recent years whilst 86.1% want the Conservatives to commit to leaving the ECHR and repealing the Human Rights Act and a clear majority want to scrap net zero targets (77.8%) and the OBR (64.3%) but to regain democratic oversight of the Bank of England (83.2%);

90.4% of respondents either strongly agree or agree that the Conservative Party needs to become more democratic with a greater role for members in selecting the leader, setting policy and selecting candidates while 84.8% want a full-scale overhaul of CCHQ;More than three-quarters of respondents think that the next Conservative leader should warmly welcome Reform UK members, supporters, candidates and parliamentarians into the party (76.5%) whilst just over four in five want the party to focus on winning over (or winning back) the four million voters who backed Reform UK at the last election.

Mark Littlewood, Director of Popular Conservatism, said: 

"It is clear that those who responded to our survey either favour Badenoch, Jenrick, or Patel, but with a significant number still undecided, everything is to play for. It is imperative that Conservatives MPs offer the membership a proper choice in the last two candidates from whom the members will chose.

"What is also clear is that Conservative Party members want a return to popular conservative policies. They want root and branch reform of the party's structures to make it more democratic and they want the wider Conservative family to unite to avoid a future defeat similar to the defeat at the last general election. 

"Whoever becomes leader of the party will have to address those concerns - concerns which we hear from members every day. If they do, the party will have a route back into Government." 

Scroll down to view key findings in each area:

Click here to view the summary of the survey (table format)

ENDS